Autism is a neurologically-based disorder of development in which there are deviations or abnormalities in three areas of development:

	Social relationships and skills
	Language for communication
	Behaviour

Sometimes this is called the Triad of Impairments

Notes

Abnormalities in these three broad areas of development can range from mild to severe.

Those with severe characteristics are usually classed as autistic.

Those with ordinary intelligence and milder symptoms are sometimes diagnosed as having Asperger Syndrome

The following diagnostic criteria is taken from the DSM-IV

Later we will see how this criteria manifests in the different behaviours encountered in an Asperger individual.

Diagnosis for Autism and Asperger Syndrome

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© Jane Ellwood 2001